§ Mr. John Smithasked the Minister of Public Building and Works (1) what is the estimated amount of capital required to complete the structure and provide all landlord's services in the new Government office block between Horseferry Road and Great Peter Street;
(2) what is the amount of capital invested to date in the new Government office block between Horseferry Road and Great Peter Street, including purchase and preparation of site.
§ Mr. MellishThe Ministry has so far invested £5.25 million in the new Government office scheme in Horseferry Road, including the site. The balance on present estimates is £2.1 million.
§ Mr. John Smithasked the Minister of Public Building and Works what will be the floor area of office space in the new Government block between Horseferry Road and Great Peter Street; and what will be the loan charges and maintenance costs per square foot per annum.
§ Mr. MellishThe office area will be 450,000 square feet. The cost of the building is being met from funds voted by Parliament for this purpose and no loan charges are incurred. Maintenance costs are likely to be about 8s. per square foot including cleaning and the provision of heating, electricity, gas and water.
§ Mr. John Smithasked the Minister of Public Building and Works what extra
44Wyears 1964 to 1966 (in terms of constant (1958) prices) are as follows:
cost has been incurred by delay in completion, deterioration of the structure, and employment of supervisory staff to look after the shell, of the new Government office block between Horseferry Road and Great Peter Street.
§ Mr. MellishThe building contract for these offices is on a firm price basis, under which the contractor carries full responsibility for labour supply, materials, etc., and the cost of any deterioration of the structure.
It is not possible at this stage to say to what extent, if at all, extra costs have been incurred for the reasons mentioned in the Question.